Animal feed compositions containing phytase derived from transgenic alfalfa and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A value-added composition of matter containing plant matter from transgenic alfalfa which expresses exogenous phytase activity is disclosed. The phytase activity is a gene product of an exogenous gene encoding for phytase which has been stably incorporated into the genome of alfalfa plants. The transgenic alfalfa expresses phytase activity in nutritionally-significant amounts, thereby enabling its use in animal feeds to eliminate the need for phosphorous supplementation of livestock, poultry, and fish feed rations.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An animal feed composition comprising leafy plant material from transgenic alfalfa plants which constituitively express exogenous phytase activity at a concentration of at least about 0.5% by weight of soluble protein present in the transgenic alfalfa. 
     
     
       2. The animal feed composition of claim  1 , wherein the transgenic alfalfa expresses phytase at a concentration of from about 1.0% to about 2.0% by weight of soluble protein present in the transgenic alfalfa. 
     
     
       3. The animal feed composition of claim  1  which is a poultry feed composition. 
     
     
       4. The animal feed composition of claim  1  which is a swine feed composition. 
     
     
       5. The animal feed composition of claim  1  which is a ruminant feed composition. 
     
     
       6. The animal feed composition of claim  1  which is a fish feed composition. 
     
     
       7. The animal feed composition of claim  1 , further comprising juice, frozen juice, concentrated juice, or leafy plant material from non-transgenic alfalfa plants. 
     
     
       8. A method of feeding monogastric livestock or poultry which reduces or eliminates the need for phosphorous supplementation of monogastric livestock or poultry rations comprising: feeding monogastric livestock an animal feed composition of claim  1 . 
     
     
       9. A method of feeding monogastric livestock or poultry which reduces or eliminates the need for phosphorous supplementation of monogastric livestock rations comprising: feeding monogastric livestock or poultry an animal feed composition of claim  7 .